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f Aug; 13, 1929.

G. FERRUZZI AMPHIBIAN FLYING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, V1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug-13, 1929. ,FRRUZZ, 1,124,755 AMPHIBIAN FLYING MACHINE- I Filed Feb. 18,l 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. P ERRUZZI AMPHI G MACH A d Feb. 18, 1928 5 Shee n Aug. 13, 1929. G, FERRUZZ. 1,724,755

AMPHIBIAN FLYING MACHINE Filed Feb. 18. 1928 5.Sheets-Sheet 4 6in1/mm1' Ir/razzi 335%@ @Mime/13 Aug. 13, 1929. G. FERRuzzl AMPHIBIAN FLYING'MACHINE Filed Feb. 18, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @Patentes Aug. i3, reas.

GIOVANNI FERRUZZI,

OF NEW YORK, 'Il'. Y.

AMPHIBIAN FLYING 1*/[ACHI1TFal Application filed February 18, 1928. Serial No. 255,331.

This invention relates to iiying machines of the heavier than air type and more particularly refers to an aeroplane of a novel and improved construction adapted to travel both in air and in water and affording unusual conditions of safety and stability.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a flying machine of a novel and improved design, providing ample and commodious accommodation for a number of passengers together with conditions of stability which insure its safe travel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved type of flying machine which by virtue of its construction is bound to maintain its normal position under all conditions, its low center of gravity preventing the possibility of its tilting and nose diving, such as now exists 1n most 2o flying machines of the heavier than air type.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the character specified, a novel and improved arrangement of wings and supporting planes, providing an ample supporting surface and at the same timeaifording simple and convenient means for effecting turning movements and for' controlling ascensional and descending movements of the machine.

A still further object is to provide in a machine of this type, a novel and improved arrangement of the body structure affording ample accommodation for stores and passengers and at the same time lending itself for safe and comfortable travel both on water and in air.

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear asv the description proceeds, this invention furthermore comprises certain novel constructions and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed in the appended claims.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompany drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective of my improved iiying machine;

Fig. 2 is a vperspective view from the side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view through line 4 4 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the machine through line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

My improved machine consists essentially of a. twin body comprising two aeroplane fuselages 10, 11, connected in a substantially parallel but spaced relation by a central frame or structure 12. This frame forms an open longitudinal chamber 13, interposed between the two fuselages, in which is mounted a motor housing surrounding a central motor, not shown, and provided with a pit 15 through which a mechanic can have access'to the motor, said pit being prefer ably also adapted to provide a seat for a vmechanic when one is carried besides the two pilots who are seated, one in each cockpit 1G, 17, with which the fuselages are provided in the usual manner.

The front end of each fuselage carries another motor, not shown, so that the power plant consists of a central motor and two additional motors, one at each side thereof, said motors driving propellers 18, 19, 20, respectively.

The front end of chamber 13 is equipped with a horizontal rudder 21 and a vertical rudder 22 which are operated independently of one another in any well known manner. The rear end of chamber 13 and the rear end of each fuselage on the other hand, are provided with vertical and horizontal fins or surfaces, such as 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, which serve to increase the stability of the structure and which also assist the supporting action of the wings.

The wings and other part-s of the supporting structure are carried by the upper part 29 and the lower part 30 of frame 12, and the same comprise essentially a pair of stationary laterally extending wings 31, 32, mounted on Jthe upper part 29 of frame 12 and two stationary preferably bifurcated lower Wings 33, 34, laterally extending from the lower part 30 of frame 12. The upper and lower wings so far mentioned are reinforced and connected by upwardly directed struts 35, 36, 37, 38, after the fashion now currently in use in aeroplanes of the biplane type.

In front of the upper stationary wings 31, 32 are provided two additional supporting surfaces 39, 40, laterally extending from the center of the structure and pivotally mounted at said point on a longitudinal pivot 41. Said surfaces can therefore be inclined more or less upwardly from their in this manner, the surfaces may be inde-l pendently or simultaneously'caused to `assume a direction upwardly inclined at any desired angle, such as .for instance, as indicated at'39, 40. By virtue of this arrangement, it is ,possible vto raise one or the other surface from its-normal position so as yto eiiect turning .movements of the machine atthe will of the p'ilot'in charge, said movement being `preferably eiiectuable by either pilot. n

In the preferred construction, the machine is also provided wi-th two similar supporting surfaces 43, 44, at xthe rear of stationary wings 31, 32, said supporting surfaces laterally extending from and being .pivotally mounted at the center of the structure on a longitudinal pivot 45. Said additional supporting surfaces y43, 44 are also inclinable upwardly .independently of each other, in the same manner askexplained in connection with ysurfaces 39, 40.

lin so far as explained, the structure consists oi' a bimotoied or preferably .triinotored plane, comprising` two spaced fuselages, connected by a 4central frame structure and .provided with a special arrangementof wings and supporting surfaces. This structure is completed by equipping the upper part 29 and the lower part 30 .of vframe 12 with a system of auxiliary planes 46, 47, 48, 49, mounted ontransversely directed pivots 50, 5l, 52, 53, respectively, which are in alignment .with upper part 29 and lower pant `30 `of frame l2, but which can be operated by either pilot to decrease o r increase the angle of incidence of the structure as a whole.

This can 4be .done in 4any suitable manner and to illustrate the idea Vtheupper auxiliary planes 46, 47'v are shown connected to the lower planes 48, 49 by connections 54, 55, respectively, said connections being in their turn joined -by a longitudinal beam or .bar 56, mounted on a sha-ft 57, running transversely of trame l2 and providedwith a control lever 58 at .each end within reach of the pilots.

By virtue of this arrangement, by 4`re- -terring tolTig.- 5 of the drawings, itwill 'be understood that if `lever 58 is angularly moved in a clockwise direction,` the four planes ,46, 47, 48,49 will be tilted .about their gle oi incidence or' the supporting structure as a whole; and on the other hand, if

lever 58 is angularly moved in a counterplanes 47, 49, may be inclined downwardly.-

abeut their pivots to such an extent that rapid ascent will be etl'ected at a comparatively wide angle tothe ground surface, .so that a -very short run will be required to start .the`machine; this is an obvious ad-k vantage which does away with the 'lim-itations met with the operation of `flying machines of the ordinary type which require specially prepared starting and landing ields if their (salie operation is to be attained.

For the saine reason it is also possible to effect landings with comparatively short runs, whenever conditions so require.

They structure described, is designed for ample propelling power and has ample lifting and supporting capacity, so that the under structure which also forms a partei the `present 4invention can be attached to or suspended from the lower part 30 of frame l2 in order to complete the novel machine forming the object of my invention.

Said under Astructure consists of two spaced longitudinally kdirected boats or pontocns 59, 60, connected by a ,central platform 6l, upon which is built a preferably closed structure 62, providing living, seating and yobservation accommodation ior ay number oi passengers which may be carriedaccording to the capacity of the machine. lSuch astructure affords a cominodious space which may be subdivided into various rooms,"if desired, and which enjoys an 'unobstructed view on all sides and a relative freedom from the noise of the motors overhead.

The floor of the structure can .be made of or provided with transparent panes affording an unobstructed view of the country over Y which the machine flies. v

The decks of the boats or pontoonswhich `extend alongside the central structure 62 afford in their turn an ample and commodious space, wherein the passengers may walk or sit in the open air, the saine being used practically in the same way-as the deck oi` an ordinary Steamship; ,walking space may also be provided by the `lower wings 33, 34, said surfaces-being reached by means ci" a ladder or other .suitable means such as shown at 63 in Fig. 2.

The boats or pontoons are each provided ally extending pivots such as 68said wheel projecting to some extent below `the lower edge ofthe keels.

By virtue of this arrangement, the wheels are enabled to provide a roller support for the entire structure, and the heels in their turn go to insure the stability of the structure when landing in water, preventing eX- cessive rolling movements thereof.

, The sides of the boats oil pontoons may be equipped with stairways, such as shown at 69, which may be lowered to the water edge or raised therefrom, if desired. The various parts of the strucfire may be connected land reinforced by cables or chains 70, 7l, 72, and so forth, wherever it may be useful or desirable in order to form a strong and resistant structure.

The complete machine thus described is therefore well adapted to provide safe and comfortable travel for a number of passengers, at the same time providing ample and easily accessible room for the storage of merchandise and supplies in the holds of the two boats or pontoons. The under structure serves to a certain extent to increase the stability of the machine by lowering its center of gravity, so that under no conditions will the. machine turn over.

An additional factor of safety is provided by the fact that the machine is equipped with a multimotored plant, this being the recognized practice, wherever safety and reliability of operation are the primary considerations.

The machine as designed, is equally well adapted to travel through air and on water, its sea worthiness being warranted by the twin body construction of its lower structure and by the relatively deep heels with which the boats or pontoons are provided.

In addition to this, as stated, the machine is capable of relatively rapid ascensional and descent movements, due to the arrangement of pivot-ally mounted planes 46, 47, 4S, 49, and the same is furthermore capable of rapid turning movements due to the possibility of independently controlling inclinable surfaces a9, io, is, 4i.

The machine is especially suitable for transportation of merchandise and passengers, but can also be used for defensive and offensive purposes in war service; in this event, defensive and offensive means of any suitable description may be provided and guns may be mounted on the decks as shown, for instance at 73 while torpedoes and other weapons may be suspended from the bottom of the center structure 62.

Various details of construction of my invention may be modified to a certain extent without departing from the scope of my inventive idea; therefore, the drawings should be understood asbeing intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense. I accordingly reserve myself the right to carry my invention into practice vin all those .vays and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a flying machine the combination of two spaced fuselages each provided with a motor, stationary supporting planes therefor, additional planes vertically tiltable on horizontal longitudinal axes, a horizontal anda vertical rudder, a lower body structure comprising two spaced boats, a frame mounted on said two boats and supporting said fuselage and planes, a platform connecting said two boats and bridging the space therebetween, and a cabin mounted on said platform.

2. In a flying machine the combination of a wing structure of the biplane type cornprising fixed wings, and additional wings vertically tiltable about horizontal longitudinal axes, two spaced fuselages each provided with a motor, associated with said wing structure, a third motor mounted therebetween, a lower body structure comprising two boats, a frame connecting said two boats and supporting said fuselages and wing structure and a vertical and a horizontal rudder mounted on said frame.

3. In a flying machine the combination of two spaced fuselages each provided with a motor, stationary supporting planes therefor, additional planes vertically tiltable on horizontal longitudinal axes, longitudinal planes vertically tiltable about horizontal transversal axes, a horizontal and a vertical rudder, a lower body structure comprising two spaced boats, a frame mounted on said two boats and supporting said fuselage and planes, and a cabin also mounted on said boats.

AI. In a flying machine the combination of a wing structure of the biplane type comprising fixed wings, and additional wings vertically tiltable about horizontal longitudinal axes, longitudinal planes vertically tiltable about horizontal transversal axes, two spaced fuselages each provided with a motor, associated with said wing structure, a third motor mounted therebetween, a lower body structure comprising two boats, a frame connecting said two boats and supporting said fuseiages and wing structure and a vertical and a horizontal rudder mounted on said frame.

5. In a flying machine the combination of a wing structure of the biplane type comprising xed wings and additional wings vertically tiltable about horizontal longitudinal axes, two spaced fuselages each provided with a motor, associated with said wing structure, a third motor mounted therebetween, longitudinal planes vertically tiltable vabout horizontal transversal aXes also `:mounted ,between said two fuselages, a

.lowerloody structure comprising two boats lower edge thereof, a frame connecting said two boats and supporting said fuselages and wing structure, anda vertical and a horizontal rudder mounted on said frame.

6. In a ying machine the combination of a wing structure .of `the vbiplane type comprising -fixed wings and additional wings vertically tiltable about horizontal longitudnal axes, ktwo spaced fuselages yeach pro vvided with Aa motor, ,associated with said wing structure, a third lmotor mounted therebetween, longitudinal planes vertically tilted on said boats and supporting said fuselages and wing structure, a vertical and a horizontal rudder mounted on said frame, a platform connecting said two boat-s and bridging .the space therebetween and acabin mounted on said platform.

`(ErIKOVANNI FERRUZZI. 

